Malcolm Smith’s brother Steve knows fame can fade fast

But now, the former Giants receiver isn’t even the most famous member of his own football family.

The once-explosive wideout whose career wasn’t the same after a knee injury is the older brother of Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith, and said he told his brother to relish this time.

“I just told him to enjoy the moment, go out in pregame and take some pictures because you never know when it could end and you may never be back again,’’ Steve Smith said, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “I think he took a lot from my experience and just savoring the moment and knowing it can be done any time, things change in a minute. He really took advantage of his opportunity.’’

Steve Smith at one point seemed to be challenging the Panthers wide receiver as the best with that name, after winning a Super Bowl as a rookie in 2007 and catching 107 passes in 2009. But a knee injury the following season cut him down, and he never recovered his old form in stints with the Eagles and Rams.

Malcolm Smith was the star among a constellation of them for the Seahawks, with a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.

Steve Smith’s fame faded because he chased fame over practicality. The Giants told him they would help him rehab and he would take the first part of the season off, while the Eagles said he could play right away. He chose the Eagles, and screwed up his knee for good rather than rehabbing with the team that brought him fame in the first place

pixelito says:Feb 4, 2014 10:11 AM

Giants doctors told Smith he’d miss 2 months. The Eagles had him playing by week 3…. Career over.

Go figure.

elliottcovert says:Feb 4, 2014 10:15 AM

I looked at Malcolm Smith’s stats after he won MVP and they’re actually very good. If he can keep that level of productivity up, he won’t have to worry about being a flash in the pan.

nwsportsmatt says:Feb 4, 2014 10:17 AM

Seahawks destroyed the Vikings 41-20 this year. I don’t see them being too scared of Christian Ponder. LOL.

Bad medical advice aside, this is why in a League where a team can cut you at anytime if they feel like – you hold out for the most money and renegotiate the second you outperform your contract.

It may seem like that strategy is not the most honorable, but what’s good for the team (releasing you the second they feel like you are underperforming) is good for the player.

the only players who are outside of this little drama are the QB’s, who routinely get paid more than what they are worth and rarely have to fight for extensions.

the League got a lesson this SB – a great defense (even with the Goodell trying to mandate hard hitting out of the NFL) beat a $100M QB. Just maybe it doesn’t make sense to tie up 20% of your cap with one player

In what universe do these Vikings fans live? The Vikings HAVE had recent troubles with PEDs. You can pretend your team is great and you can pretend they have never done anything questionable but the facts stand for themselves. The players who used PEDs have been penalized and shunned and have turned things around. If you believe anyone who has ever used a PED should not be allowed to play football anymore, then you need to take that up with the commissioner and say goodbye to half the league.

Steve Smith could have easily been a solid 80-100 catch receiver for the past 3-4 years had he chosen to rehab properly and to take the reasonable contract new york had offered years back. Instead he gambled on a one year contract with the stink birds in phillu which further injured himself opening the door for Victor Cruz. Leaving Smith no security or playing stats to give any other team reason to sign him. I was surprised he even got a spot on the rams ….and I believe that was due to Spagnuolo being the coach at the time. I’m sure Malcolm doesn’t care much on what his brother says while he’s sitting on the couch eating pringles